Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We offer a range of programs designed to prepare you for success in the beauty industry:

• Cosmetology (1,000 hours)
• Barbering (1,000 hours)
• Esthetics (Esthiology, 600 hours)
• Advanced Esthetics
• Makeup Artistry

Our education combines theory with practical, hands-on experience and professional business strategies. You’ll gain salon-ready skills and learn in a supportive, real-world environment.

Our campus is in San Francisco: 305 Kearny Street, San Francisco, CA 94108.

Yes, we operate salon and spa facilities in San Francisco. Our students gain practical experience by interacting directly with guests in these settings.

Our institute offers a unique salon-ready environment that puts students behind the chair, at the retail counter, and even in the owner’s shoes, preparing them for long-term success in the beauty industry.

Visit our website to learn more about our application process and schedule a tour of our San Francisco campus. You need to be at least 17 and have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent. There is a $75 application fee.

Yes, we encourage prospective students to schedule a campus tour to experience our facilities firsthand and meet with our admissions team.

Graduates of Cinta Aveda Institute are well-prepared for careers in various fields of beauty and wellness, including salons, spas, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Results for our San Francisco campus’s 2024 graduates, from our School Performance Fact Sheets:

Full fact sheets are on our consumer information page.

Yes, we offer financial aid options. Contact our admissions office for more information on scholarships, grants, and financing your education. Cinta Aveda participates in federal student aid (Title IV). Our FAFSA school code is 041800.

Daytime schedules are three days a week on campus, 9:00 am–5:30 pm, plus one session of online theory (28.5 hours a week). Evening schedules are Tuesday–Thursday, 5:30–10:00 pm, plus 4.5 hours online on Monday (18 hours a week).

Yes. Cosmetology and esthetics have an evening schedule: Tuesday–Thursday, 5:30–10:00 pm, with 4.5 hours of online theory on Monday.

Cosmetology tuition is $20,910, including books, iPad, equipment, and supplies.

Every total includes your eBooks, iPad and supplies kit; there’s no registration fee and no separate kit or textbook bill. You pay a $75 application fee before enrolling and a $125 State Board exam fee after you finish. Students who enroll for October 2026 classes receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Financial aid may be available for students who qualify. Options may include federal financial aid through FAFSA (school code 041800), Federal Pell Grants, Federal Direct Loans, scholarships, interest-free payment plans, and Parent PLUS Loans. Contact the admissions team for current eligibility requirements and assistance with the application process.

Most students use federal aid. In 2023–24, 72% of new full-time students received financial aid, and 61% received a federal Pell Grant, averaging $4,671, which doesn’t have to be repaid. Among 2023/24 San Francisco graduates who took out federal loans, the average federal debt was $3,801 for esthetics and $6,571 for cosmetology and barbering.

Yes. Cinta Aveda Institute provides career placement assistance to graduates and supports students as they pursue employment opportunities in the beauty and wellness industry. Students get help with résumés and interviews, attend our bi-annual career fairs, and can connect with the Aveda network of more than 6,500 salons, spas and health clubs.

New classes start throughout the year. Contact admissions for the next start date. Students who enroll for October 2026 classes receive a $1,000 scholarship.

No. Each program’s total includes your eBooks, an iPad and your supplies kit. The only other costs are the $75 application fee and the $125 State Board exam fee.